CNMI to honor school counselors next week

By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The Public School System Board of Education proclaimed on Feb. 9 as CNMI School Counselors’ Day. Board of Education chair Roman C. Benavente, together with the board members and PSS officials, signed the proclamation Thursday at the BOE conference room during the monthly BOE board meeting.

The counselors’ day was declared in simultaneous celebration of the “National School Counseling Week” from Feb. 7 to 11, as declared by the American School Counselor Association. Witnessing the proclamation signing were William S. Reyes Elementary School counselor Rebecca Flores and Saipan Southern High School counselor Cecilia Labausa.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta will officially open the week by signing his office’s proclamation tomorrow at the Governor’s Office, to be attended by some school principals, PSS officials and some government officers.

Flores and Labausa thanked the board for the trust and opportunity given them in honoring all school counselors, who help uplift the students’ spirits and well-being in their respective schools.

“We’ve been helping students in all aspects,” said Labausa, “It’s about time we are seen not only as disciplinarians; we are here for the students to help them.”

Both counselors said their profession has become the eyes, ears and the heart of the school.

BOE recognized the significance of school counseling “through the inclusion of elementary, middle and secondary school counseling programs in the “highly qualified personnel” under the No Child Left Behind Act.”

The proclamation stated that school counselors are employed both in private and public schools as student advocates, to provide opportunities for every student to succeed and set realistic goals that will favorably affect their future.

“We teach them to be positive thinkers. We don’t only teach their minds but we also teach their hearts,” said Flores, adding that counselors work hand in hand with the school administrators to make sure the school is a safe environment for a more conducive place to learn.

Flores said their main objective now is to work with parents as well as teachers to help children develop through proper guidance. They are also there to assist in addressing social issues that students face every day, which includes peer pressure, depression and school violence.

The proclamation also stated that school counselors’ week aims to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement the CNMI Comprehensive School Counseling Programs that helps students become productive member of society.

ASCA is an international nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, which supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on their academic, personal, social and career development to attain success in school and in the society. The association is also active in providing professional development, producing publications and other resources, conducting and assisting in research to support nearly 17,000 professional school counselors around the world.